Posted on 04/17/2010 6:12:38 PM PDT by Bigtigermike
Edited on 04/17/2010 6:36:37 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
Remember the talk that the Big Ten would take 12-18 months to decide whether to expand?
An accelerated timetable has emerged, according to sources familiar with the process.
High-ranking Big Ten representatives will meet Sunday afternoon in Washington D.C. to discuss expansion. The timing and location of the session make sense considering the Association of American Universities is holding its semi-annual meetings in D.C. from Sunday-Tuesday, and all 11 Big Ten schools are AAU members.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagobreakingsports.com ...
Raiding the Big East?
I'm a Memphis Tiger fan, would love for us to be reunited with our true rival Louisville and somewhat Cincinnati..
You heard it here first.
That would be a shame... PSU-fan here.
I understand Jamie Dixon prefers Big East hoops to Big Ten b-ball.
All I want is an opponent or two that can beat Ohio State.
Texas Longhorns will make the Big Ten an even 12.
Of all possible mentions, Nebraska makes the most sense, and has a program most like the Big Ten teams.
That would be sweet! Texas could be an Ohio State killer!
True, that.
It's a lot tougher to recruit a Big East team, but it's worth it.
As long as the school has or adds wrestling I’m happy. Although losing Texas could be disastrous to the Big XII.
It would be the worst mistake Texas could ever make. Their closest opponent would be some 500 miles away and their fans wouldn't forgive them for removing Oklahoma or Texas A&M from their football schedule. I just don't see it happening.
Notre Dame would be the obvious choice if they would just sign on to it but why should they with the sweetheart deals they already have? Plus, if the Big 10 split into two divisions like all the others, Notre Dame makes it hard to split and keep all the rivalries intact.
Missouri makes the most sense. It adds the St. Louis TV market and possibly the KC market as well.
The rumors I'm hearing in Big Ten country are:
1. Rutgers
2. Pitt
3. Iowa State
4. Nebraska
5. Missouri
6. Cincinnati
Not from a win-loss standpoint. Texas would run the table in the conference unless Ohio State got lucky.
From a fan standpoint, you're right. No Oklahoma or Texas A&M would anger a bunch of fans.
I agree with you that Missouri is the most likely addition to the Big 10.
ND could still schedule USC and Navy as non-conference games. They just fear losing Temple and other powderpuff match-ups.
BCS National Champions by conference (1998–present)
| Conference | Championships | Schools | BCS Championship Game Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEC | 6 | Tennessee (1998), LSU (2003, 2007), Florida (2006, 2008), Alabama (2009) | 6–0 (1.000) |
| Big 12 | 2 | Oklahoma (2000), Texas (2005) | 2–5 (0.286) |
| Pac-10 | 1 | USC (2004) | 1–1 (0.500) |
| Big Ten | 1 | Ohio State (2002) | 1–2 (0.333) |
| ACC | 1 | Florida State (1999) | 1–2 (0.333)[91] (2–4 current alignment) |
| Big East | 1 | Miami (2001) | 1–2 (0.333)[91] (0–0 current alignment) |
It won’t be cincinnati. They don’t have the facilities to qualify for B10 membership. I agree that ND won’t join the B10. It doesn’t really offer them anything. Besides, the Big East is already BCS, and it would offer ND a relatively easy path to a national championship PLUS it would use up only 8 games on their schedule, leaving them with some of their traditional opponents.
I’m thinking the top candidates with state flagship-level university credentials + acceptable facilities and excellent basketball are: West Virginia, Pitt, Boston College, Virginia Tech, Kansas State, and Missouri. I like the Iowa State idea. I’ve wondered about Louisville who has just opened a dynamite basketball arena.
What doesn’t matter? Wrestling? I didn’t say it did. Wrestling matters to me. And since all Big 10 schools have wrestling I am hopeful that a new member without it would add it.
As for Texas, they are a huge team surrounded by big markets, it would be bad news for the Big XII to lose them.
“Their closest opponent would be some 500 miles away and their fans wouldn’t forgive them for removing Oklahoma or Texas A&M from their football schedule.”
You are correct, except the Big 10 is looking to add 3 to 5 teams. So what if they “went big” and brought Texas, A&M, and Oklahoma on board? That would be a conference to rival to SEC!
It doesn't matter which teams go into the Big-10 or leave the Big-12 since the SEC will still dominate both.
Iowa St. and Pitt add a rival for Iowa and Penn St. respectively but they do nothing in terms of tv markets (and tv is going to be 3/4ths of the equation).
West Virginia is another market which doesn’t have much to offer.
Nebraska, at least, has a national football fan base much the way Notre Dame does although their basketball program isn’t much.
Rutgers only makes sense as an entry way to the NY-Philly tv markets but, otherwise, they’d be a fish out of water in the Big 10. Syracuse might make more sense there.
Missouri has two good tv markets, are competitive in football and basketball, already has a rivalry with Illinois and has enough educational prestige to satisfy the snoot-nosed regents. If Notre Dame won’t budge, Missouri gives them the best option.
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